Common name: basil

Botanical names: Ocimum basilicum, Ocimum crispum, Ocimum minimum

Origin: India, Central America

Varieties

Citriodorum (lemon-scented); Dark Opal (purple-red leaves and rose-colored flowers); Minimum (dwarf variety). Or grow the variety available in your area.

Description

These tender annuals grow one to 21/2 feet tall, with square stems and opposite leaves. Basil may have either green or purple-red soft-textured leaves, and spikes of small whitish or lavender flowers. In India basil is considered a holy herb. In Italy it is a love gift, and in Romania it is an engagement token. In Greece the connotation is less romantic; there basil is a symbol of death and hatred. Basil has the distinction of being fragrant at all stages of its development.

Where and when to grow

Like most herbs, basil can be grown quite easily anywhere in the United States. It prefers a climate that does not run to extremes of temperatures, but it tolerates heat better than cold. The first fall frost will kill the plant. It's grown from seed or transplants, and you can plant either in spring, a week or two after your area's average date of last frost. Basil makes a charming houseplant - put It in a

sunny window.

How to plant

Basil needs a well-drained soil that's high in organic matter. It does well in soil that many other plants wouldn't tolerate; and too-fertile soil is actually a disadvantage, because it encourages lush foliage but a low oil content, which affects the aromatic quality of the herb. If you grow from seed, sow the seed a quarter inch deep in rows 18 to 24 inches apart. When the seedlings are growing strongly, thin them to stand four to six inches apart. A sunny spot is best, but basil will tolerate light shade. Basil seeds itself and will often produce good plants if the soil is not disturbed too much in the spring. Using transplants in the spring will mean you can harvest your basil sooner. You can also buy a healthy plant from a nursery or farmers' market stand and plant that. If you want to grow basil indoors, put it in a sunny window or under lights.

Fertilizing and watering

Do not fertilize basil; over fertilizing is a disadvantage to most aromatic herbs. If the soil is very acid, sweeten it with some lime. Otherwise, let it be. If basil needs water the leaves will wilt - give it enough water to prevent this.

Special handling

Pinch off the terminal shoots to encourage branching and slow down flower production. If you don't, the plants will get tall and leggy.

Pests

Basil has no serious pest problems.

Diseases

Basil has no serious disease problems.

When and how to harvest

Pick the basil as you need it by cutting a few inches off the top. This will encourage the plant to become bushy instead of going to flower.

Storing and preserving

Store the crushed dry leaves in an airtight container. You can also freeze the leaves.

Serving suggestions

Fresh basil gives a wonderful flavor to sliced tomatoes dressed with a little oil and lemon juice, and it's good in other salads, too. Fresh basil is the essential ingredient in pesto, a luxuriously aromatic pasta dish. You can also use the leaves - fresh or dried - with fish, game and meat dishes, on eggs, and in stews and sauces. Try herbed butter with basil, or make basil vinegar.